Carpenter&#39;s tool chest



Oct. 26, 1943;

J. E. KALSKE 2,332,918

CARPENTERS TOOL CHEST Filed Jan. 26. 1945 'u 1 NH, i was I,

6/? aka/6m? ment thereof into the opened position;

Patented Oct. 26, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,332,913 m CARPENTERS' 'roon CHEST JohnE. Kalske, Washington, D. 0. Application January 26, 1943, Serial No.473,646 6 Claims. (01. 206-16) This invention relates to a toolchest and more particularly-a carpenters tool chest adapted to contain the conventional tools used in that trade. It is the object of the present invention to provide a carpenters tool chest which is compact and rugged in construction and in which may be housed a wide assortment of tools generally used by carpenters in their work which are readily accessible and open to View upon the opening ofthe tool chest. f j

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tool chest having maximum storage capacity for tools within the volumetric limits of a tool box which is not unduly bulky and which may be carried conveniently in the course of travelling between diiierent jobs on buses, railway. trains, and other public conveyances;

It is a particular object of the inventionto make provision for the disposition of a carpenters steel square within the tool chest. without necessitating the provision of a housing of great depth suflicient to accommodate the sides of such a square. square is such that it may be taken out from the chest or returned thereto quickly and conveniently without interference in relation to the other tools in the chest.

It is a further object of the invention to pro vide storage space for the essential tools of a carpenter such as saws, chisels and spirit level in addition to the carpenters square with minimum rattling and possible shifting of the tools within the tool chest. It is a particular feature of the invention to provide storage space for saws in the lids of the tool chest wherein they are retained securely so that they are not bent or dulled.

It is a further object of the invention to pro:

vide a tool chest which is divided into two prin cipal compartments, each ofwhich is provided with a hinged cover permitting the selective uncovering of either of the hinged covers, or both of them, if the complete array of tools in the chest is desired to be exposed to view.

Other objects and purposes will appear from the more detailed description of the invention following hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig; 1 is a perspective view of the tool chest in accordance with the present inventionin closed condition as the same is transported from place to-place;

- Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of Fig. 1, with the hinged closures also being shown in dotted lines to illustrate the capability of move- Furthermore, the location of the Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the opened tool chest with the hinged closures in vertical position intermediate their closed position and their fully opened position, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a detail of the hinged closures for the tool chest.

In the drawing, the tool chest in accordance withthe presentinvention is shown as composed of a main receptacle A formed by a rectangular base 2 having the longitudinal walls 3 and 4 and the transverse walls 5 and 6 extending perpen-' dicularly from the perimeter of the base. An additional longitudinallyextending wall I is pro vided for subdividing the main receptacle A into two compartments for the segregation of tools placed inthe respective compartments as well as to impart additional strength to the chest structure. A supplemental wall 8 extends from the transverse wall 5 and the wall 1 to provide a triangular compartment chisels therein.

One of the essential features of the invention is the provision of a special accommodation for the carpenters steel square in the chest. This tool is a necessity to the American carpenter.

required the removal of the other tools from the chest. At times, a jerking of the tool from the chest results in a misalignment thereof as well as a marring of the markings thereon, both of which consequences affects the utility of the tool. Furthermore, heretofore the steel square would be harmed by the rubbing of the other tools against it in the course of transporting the tool chest. All of these deficiencies are remedied by the instant invention by locating the square in a fixed place Whereat the same is most easily accessible for removal and replacement and the same is not damaged by the other tools in the chest. Undercut rests 20 are provided in the exposed edges of walls 3, 4, 5, 6, I and 8 to provide a seat for a carpenters square at the top surface of the receptacle so that the hypotenuse of the square runs substantiallyalong one of the longitudinal edges of the tool chest. Such a dispo sition of the carpenters square, which is generally 24 x 16 inches, permits a reduction in the 9 for the disposition of the accommodation of a full set of chisels therezin. The disposition of the blades in the apex of the triangle permits a large number of chisels.

to be stored in a minimum amount of space and the edges of these tools are not subject to dulling by contact with the other tools in the chest.

seating a carpenters spirit level L therein, which is maintained in place by the superposition thereover of the carpenter's square S, as shown in the drawing. The level which is most generally used by carpenters is two feet long. The shoulders 2| seat the level at the upper part of the box when the same is carried from place to place, as shown in Fig. 2. Therefore it is not subject to impact or harm by the other tools in the case. Also, when the chest is. opened, as shown in Fig. 3, the same can be removed without removing any of the other tools. In the event that a longer level is desired, such as two and a half feet, the same may be disposed in the tool chest .adiacen't. to the level shown in the drawing, in which case the same is held in place by the steel square; the'tongue of which requires lifting in Pivoted closures H and I2, which are pivoted to the longitudinal walls 3 and 4 at pivoted joints l3 and M, respectively, serve to close the tool chestsubstantially along the line of theadditional dividing wall I. These hinged closures are formed of double walls .I la, 1 lb and 12a, l2b, and provide a repository for pairs of carpenters saws. The spacing between the double walls I. la and lib, and Mia and 12b, i such as to accommodate a pair of saws disposed in opposed rela-.

tionship without undue rattling and any possible contact with other tools. to'thereby preserve their sharpness. At the same time, the saws may be withdrawn easily and returned-to their places Wheneverdesired, without. the manipualtion of any fastening means therefor. The saws-aresubject to no pressure and consequently do notbecome bent or dulled by contact with other tools.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention thetool chestis dimensioned. 31 x Mi x 5 inches,

which permits conventional saws to be stored therein. Of course, these dimensions may be varied as desired, depending upon the size of tools desired to be stored in the tool chest. Thehi-nged closure I2 is provided with a cover 15 uponthe open edge thereof whichis shown/in partially open position in dotted lines in Fig. 2. In Fig. 4 the cover [5 is shown in closedposition preparatory to the closing of the hinged closure l-L-there- The cover its is pivotally mountedon theexternal wall 52a so. thatfthe longitudinal edge" over.

l5a of the former is disposed belowthe level of the external wall i211 to accommodate the ;-edge of the external wall I, [a of the hinged closure M in superposed relation upon the edgetie at which time the surfacesv of the walls Ma and Ma are flush with each other in the closed condition of Inclined rests i519 arealso. cut out; at the ends of the cover l-Efto permit; the'seating, of the end walls of the closure H thereon, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and in. the enlarged view.

the .tool chest.

of Fig. l. The cooperating elements of fastene ing members 3! are mounted on the oppositeendwalls of the main receptacle and closures tonermit a locking of each or the hinged closures to the main receptacle.- The arrangementpermits theselective uncovering of either-compartment on the opposite sides of the wall 5, followingthe initial opening ofthe tool chestby swinging away hinged closure ll, which fits against closure J2, by; a bias. This may be followed by the epeningof hinged closure iii, if desired. O-n theother' hand, closure limay be reclosed after closure 12 is swung open, or both-closures H and {2;

remain in open position.

Bearing shoulders 21 areprovided in' the main;

receptacle adjacent, to the longitudinal wall 3; for

order to remove the longer spirit level from the tool chest.

The tool chest may be built of wood, fiber, metalorany other available material. It may be reenforced at i-ts edges and inthe corners in any suitable manner customary in the. trade. The tool chest is capable of convenient portability from place to place by the provision of handle 30in the longitudinal wall 3 thereof.

While I have described my invention as embodied in a specific form and as, operating in a specific manner for purposes of illustration, it

should be understood that I do not limit my invention thereto, since various modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing irom the spirit ofmy invention, the scope of which is set forth in the annexedclaims.

I claimi g 1. A tool chest comprising a main receptacle formedaof a base and at least four walls extending therefrom, and undercut seats formed in the exposed edges of at least some of saidwalls with aplurality of undercut seats in at least one of said walls arranged and disposed for seating therein a large carpenters square with the hypotenuse thereof extending along the length of said chest.

2. A tool chest comprising a main receptacle formed of a rectangular baseand four walls ex tending from the perimeter thereof, an .additional wall extending fromsaid base for dividing said main receptacle into. a plurality of compartments, and undercut seats formed in-the exposed edges of, at least some of said perimetric walls and said additional wall and arranged and disposed for seatingfltherein a large carpenters square 'withthe hypotenuse thereofextending along one longitudinal edge of said chest, said last-mentioned edge and. additional wall each having .a plurality of rests therein to provide a stable support-for thesquare on the exposededges of the walls.

,3. A tool Ichest comprising a main receptacle formed of a rectangular base and four'walls extending from the perimeter thereof, an additional wall extending. longitudinally from said base for dividing said mainreceptacle into a pair ofcompartments, a pair of spaced undercut seatsformed in the exposed edge of said additional wall, an auxiliary wall extending perpendicularly to said base from between oneof said lateral walls and said additional wall at approximately one of the undercut seats therein for forminga triangular-compartment for the accommodation of a full set ofchisels thereinand for buttressing said additional wall, an .undercut seat in the eX-.

;:p0sed. edge ofsaidauxiliary wall, andundercut seats formed in the exposed edges of opposed longitudinal walls cooperating with said other undercut seats for seating therein a large carpenters 24" steel square with the hypotenuse thereof along one longitudinal edge of said chest.

4. A tool chest comprising a main receptacle formed of a rectangular base and four walls extending from the perimeter thereof, an additional wall extending from said base medially and longitudinally of said receptacle for dividing said receptacle into two equal compartments to confine the tools therein to the respective compartments, and a pair of hinged closures for said receptacle pivoted from the opposite longitudinal edges of said receptacle and meeting at said additional wall, each of said hinged closures formed of a fixed double-walled chamber having a slight depth of the order of the thickness of a saw handle for providing storage space for only a pair of carpenters saws in reversed positions and open only at the edge overlying said additional wall for depositing the saws into and removing the saws from the storage space, and means for carrying said tool chest attached to one of said first-mentioned Walls so that said closures of slight depth lie in a vertical plane when the tool chest is carried.

5. A tool chest comprising a main receptacle formed of a rectangular base and four walls extending from the perimeter thereof, an additional wall extending from said base medially and longitudinally of said receptacle for dividing said receptacle into two equal compartments to confine the tools therein to the respective compartments, and a pair of hinged closures for said receptacle pivoted from the opposite longitudinal edges of said receptacle and meeting at said additional wall, each of said hinged closures formed of a fixed double-walled chamber of slight depth for providing storage space for only a pair of carpenters saws in reversed positions and open only at the edge overlying said additional wall for depositing the saws into and removing the saws from the storage space, a cover for the edge opening of one said double-walled closures pivotally mounted on the external wall thereof having the pivotal edge of the cover disposed below and beyond the surface of the external wall whereby a seat is provided thereby for the edge of the external wall of the other double-walled 5 closure when the latter is swung into closing position.

6. A tool chest comprising a main receptacle formed of a. rectangular base and four walls extending from the perimeter thereof, an additional wall extending longitudinally from said base for dividing said main receptacle into a pair of compartments, a pair of spaced undercut seats formed in the exposed edge of said additional Wall, undercut seats formed in the exposed edges of opposed longitudinal walls and arranged and disposed for seating therein a large carpenter's 24" steel square with the hypotenuse thereof along one longitudinal edge of said chest, and a pair of bearing shoulders adjacent to one of said 0 longitudinal walls for supporting a carpenters spirit level therein along a fixed line of support,

said line of support intersecting the line of disposal of the carpenter's square whereby the lat ter maintains the spirit level in place.

JOHN E. KALSKE. 

